Daily Yellowstone journal., 1887-02-25
TIE FORBIDDEN INDUSTRY.



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Catching Moonshinsrs.- Di.advs.ts<e os
Law and Order In . Contest with In
forest aud LAwiessness.
In 1878, when the active raiding against
moonshiners commenced, there we're
1,024 stills seized. and twenty five officers
Of the government were killed or wound
cd. Since then the seizures and casual
ties decreased down TO the commence
ment OF the last fiscal year.
One hundred and ninety-nine stills
we're seized In 1854 In Georgia, North
Corolina and Tennessee, the centre Of
the m%oonshine territory, the mountains
whore these three States meet being the
toughest country in the world.
The moonshiners are as poor as church
mice, and live at the foot Of the noun
tains n In the mountains valley.
These valleys are fertile and tue farms
productive. corn being the principal
crop. There ae no railroads near and
the wagon roads are rough, often only a
half-be ten track showing that a road is
intended.
These people have no means Of taking
their produce To the markets, therefore
they makethe most Of their crops which,
ever way they an. The most abundant
crop, corn, they find The most profitable
one, when converte into whisky.
They cannot afford to turn out juice
and pay the internal revenue collector
the tax OF 81 a gallon, so they sell 1t
without paying the tax, and only the
march OF c villzation can efiectually stop
1t. They we're always tirm believers in
Alexander H. Stephens, who once
said:
"If a man a take his corn to the
mill and have II ground into a little meal
without paying a tax, h. Is Gle lrly emil
tied to turn il INTO a little whisky with
out paying a tax"
The moon liners hold that they have
natural right 10 distill without paying
a tax, and prop Sc TO do SO, and ia fact
carry out ticir views.
Many OF them were oval during the
war. Before Tie war here Wa, 10 wits
ky tax and Why they snuuId summit 10
such a tax since the war II trvond their
reasoning. They are Tor all practical
purposes banded together, Tor tho. e who
do not distili encourage those WHO do.
These deniZens OF the mounta Is are
The uDOsl hhnEtltuS fldSS ~ ldW-t Tthk-
ers tho g near their base have not the
facilitie, for escape aud resistance. In
making warfare upon the former the
work must be quick, decisive and accur-
ate, and the retreat rapid. The blow
must b. struck ami the ~retreatins party
has TO retreat with speed. II thu officers
do not get away RAPIDLY they are picked
of fy the mountain sh~arpsh0oters a.
they retreat.
In the attack upon any number OF
moonshiners gathered together there
must be "A surprise. IL is a rushing and
exciting war'afe, The ( vernmcnt Of
ficers lind the greatest officially taking
out prisoners CAP. ured, as all attempted
rescue follow Iuarly every capture.
In the mountains the iavorile location
for crooked whisky is near n sheet OF
water aud only accessible by |. The
still is placed under cliffs that cannot
be- de-ce drd from above or approached
from the sides only ~apPronchable over
the wafer.
Other less favored locations are hooks
In me rurk, aud under emUIukuenls in
the deep crash. Further down the
m"unlH... lhr ~unirequenleI wood ncar a
slr,am = ltr favored spot.
ia"s - 'try In capacity from a gal
l"L "a ".LsLrlrbia News.